After Life Inc. Author Interview

I have a very awesome Sci-fi novel to share with you guys today!

After Life Inc. By S.R. Ellis

"The After Life program was created to defy death. People no longer die, instead they are chipped and uploaded into a computer program to live out an eternally blissful existence."

Joshua has been confined to the After Life program for over 100 years and is put in charge of showing new arrival, Clara Jean, the ropes of living and surviving in the program. Clara Jean soon realizes The After Life program is not the peaceful utopia she was promised. Anyone under the age of 30 is a Minor and forced into slavery, expected to obey the Elders' every command without question or complaint. Joshua and Clara live in Pod 223 with 5 other Minors who now are the closest thing Clara Jean has to family. Together, Pod 223 begins the revolution to dismantle the most tyrannical corporation in Earth's existence and in doing so discover themselves and what they truly stand for.

A BIG welcome to Author S.R. Ellis! 

I am S. R. Ellis, author of After Life, Inc. I am 21 years old and live in Charleston, SC. I love all things science fiction and geek related. My favorite author is Stephen King and I look to his work for inspiration most of the time.

1. Tell us something unusual about you.

I’m not sure if this is “unusual” but I’m a hair dye addict, in that I’m surprised my hair hasn’t fallen out after the amount and varying shades of hair color I’ve applied to it. It is a serious problem. People have told me I should seek mental help. But I just get so bored.

2. What gave you your start as a writer?

Well I’ve always wanted to write; mainly just from being a kid that always had her nose in a book. I thought it would be cool to have a book with my name on the author line. I moved to Maine in the summer of 2011, and by that fall when NaNoWriMo came around I had a decent idea going and figured I should stop dreaming about doing it and just go for it.

3. What is your favorite thing about the science fiction genre?

I love the idea of putting ordinary humans in outlandish situations and analyzing human behavior. I like thinking about how not only I would respond, but how many different personality types would respond if they were given thrust into crazy situations.

4. What has been your biggest inspiration behind After Life Inc.?

My biggest inspiration was the fact I wanted something more out of my life. I was sick of telling people I dropped out of art school and was working some remedial customer service job. Saying I wrote a book has always been a dream, so I made it happen.

5. Are Clara and Joshua’s characters based off of anyone one in particular?

I wish I could say they were based on a real person, but they really aren’t. Both of them were completely fabricated in my brain, but don’t tell them that.

6. What has been your most memorable moment in your writing career?

The most memorable moment was when I finished my first draft of After Life, Inc. Well, I’m not sure you could even call it a complete draft, looking back now, and considering how much I had to edit and change. There were also too many plot holes and inconsistencies in the characters to count, but regardless, the notion that I actually completed something that I set my heart on finishing was the greatest. I took a picture of myself holding the full manuscript after I printed it off, so it was still warm in my hands. I was on cloud 9 for a long time. It made me care less about what the atrociously rude customers I had to deal with said or thought about me because, “I WROTE A BOOK.”

7. What has been your greatest challenge while writing?

My greatest challenge is in the editing process. It is so hard for me to take out things that really need to be taken out, and it is also hard for me to rewrite portions I remember spending so long perfecting the first time around. Keep in mind this was also my first book, so I’m hoping to perfect my process going forward; in fact, I already have made it a little better. Progress.

8. Where is your favorite place to write; what do you snack on?

My favorite place to write is in a busy coffee shop. While I was in Maine I would just go sit in my local Starbucks, write, people watch, and write some more. Sometimes it is distracting, but most of the time it turns out better that way. I snack on candy. I’m a candy fiend, Laffy Taffy and Sweetarts being my favorites.

9. What advice do you have for aspiring YA authors?

Keep on keeping on. Write every day. Write every day about everything.

10. If you had to pick a figure from science fiction that has been the most influential to you who/ what would it be?

Kaylee Frye from the Firefly universe. She finds the best part of everyone she meets and everything she does. She is positive, but doesn’t let it go to her head. She is just a sweet, sweet girl that loves life. I strive to be more like that on the regular.

11. What can you tell us about your works in progress?

I can tell you I am working on a completely new universe. It is a sci-fi/western with a giant flood and lots of guns. But that’s all for now.

Thanks so much for being here today S.R.! I can't wait to read After Life Inc. Everyone knows how much I adore a good sci-fi read! 

You can find S.R. Ellis on:

Facebook / Blog /Amazon / Twitter 

Look for my review of After Life Inc. coming in October!